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| ex·ca·vate [ ékskə vàyt ] (past and past participle ex·ca·vat·ed, present participle ex·ca·vat·ing, 3rd person present singular ex·ca·vates) |
verb |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb remove earth: to remove earth or soil by digging or scooping out
  Several feet of soil were excavated from the building site.
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2. transitive and intransitive verb hollow something out: to make a hole or cavity in something by removing the material inside
excavate a tooth
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3. transitive and intransitive verb uncover something with difficulty: to discover or uncover something valuable by effort
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4. transitive verb form something by hollowing: to form a shape or cavity by hollowing
excavates a hollow in the sand as its nest
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5. transitive and intransitive verb archaeology dig for artifacts: to dig in a place carefully and methodically, taking notes about procedures, conditions, and finds, with a view to uncovering objects of archaeological interest
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| [Late 16th century. < Latin excavat-, past participle of excavare "hollow out" < cavus "hollow"] |
